Borzoi Breed Info
The Borzoi is an elegant sight hound that originated in Russia around the Middle Ages. Originally bred by crossing Arabian greyhounds with Russian hunting dogs, the Borzoi was used by the aristocracy to hunt wolves, foxes, and hares. These days, the Borzoi is more commonly seen as a companion dog than as a hunter.The breed has much in common with its ancestor, the Greyhound. Both dog's have a slim, athletic build a long muzzle and a domed head. They also share the high-set, widely spaced ears, and the small ears, typical of most sighthounds.
However the coats of the two breeds are significantly different. The Borzoi coat is long, silky and wavy and can be solid or patched in any color Borzois are intelligent, affectionate and gentle dogs who are extremely loyal and form close bonds with their immediate family. In common with other hunting breeds they tend to be independent thinkers and this can make them a challenge to train.
Despite this, Borzois can most certainly be trained. You will however have to be firm and persistent, using a positive reward based training method, like clicker training. These dogs do not respond well to harsh treatment and are also sensitive to voice tone.
These dogs are particularly fastidious and are known to groom like cats. They are also one of the quieter dog breeds, and seldom bark.If you're thinking of getting a Borzoi, you'll have to bear in mind that this is still a hunting dog at heart. The instinct to chase is still very dominant, and they will run after anything that they see as prey. They are astoundingly quick and you'll have absolutely no chance of keeping up with a Borzoi, once he gets going.
Although they are generally friendly dogs, Borzois simply can't help themselves once the hunting instinct kicks in. There is no malice intended, but they will track and hunt small animals, including cats that they have not been socialized with.
This is a healthy dog breed that is seemingly immune to major inherited diseases. Cardiac disease and canine cancers do occur but are rare. In addition, the breed is susceptible to gastric torsion or bloat. Like many sighthounds, the Borzoi is sensitive to anesthetics. The median lifespan for the Borzoi is a short 7-10 years, although some have been known to reach 14 years of age.
As you’d expect with that luxuriant coat the Borzoi requires regular brushing and occasional trimming to keep them looking their best. They are also heavy shedders, especially in the spring when they moult their thick winter undercoat.
Despite their athleticism, exercise needs are medium. Borzois can be real couch potatoes, but still need daily walks.
If you’re looking for a name for your Borzoi, the best advice is to visit a dog names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of girl dog names.
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